I rarely pass through this place and see these large trees and these humble buildings, although this square is a few steps away from the Duomo, in an area where I go quite often.And yet for several years this square has been the centre of all my activities: here there were many lecture rooms of the Faculty of Architecture where I've studied, attended courses, taken exams; here I've met many people and formed friendships that are still lasting and important.Nevertheless, I don't like coming back here: the base of Architecture has moved to another place, leaving room to the Faculty of Literature and Philosophy, a short time ago an unpleasant railing was made in order to keep out at night the many drifters who hang around here, and the small bar on the corner where I used to go has closed.On the whole, there is too little liveliness, too much silence, although small groups of students passing by can still be seen, and the numerous parked cars reveal that many people still live or have their jobs here.Sitting on a bench that once was not here, I quickly made this drawing, while in my mind images of situations and people I hadn't been thinking of for years appeared again like flashes.And while I was painting with water-soluble pencils, the brown ink liner that I had used for the drawing, coming in contact with water, became unexpectedly red, as if the years that had passed from the memories of this square had transferred also on my sheet a warm coating of rust.

11 commenti:

It's sad when we lose the places that we used to go or when they change from how we remember them. Your style seems to have changed too here, or maybe it's the subject. Love the cars - I can never get them to look anything like cars !